CRIME SUSPENSTORIES #12 * CGC 6.5 * Feldstein Fiddles with Formula

Author:
Title: CRIME SUSPENSTORIES No. 12
Place Published:
Publisher:EC [Indicia: L. L. Publishing Co. Inc.]
Date Published: August-September, 1952
Description: CGC certified: Fine+ (6.5). Off-white to white pages. Grader notes: Light spine stress lines to cover; moderate creasing to cover.

CGC Census: 85 graded copies (83 Universal, 2 Restored).

GPAnalysis: A 6.5 sold for $160 in 11/17; a 6.0 sold for $400 in 5/23.

Credits: Cover: Johnny Craig. Scripts: Johnny Craig, Bill Gaines, and Al Feldstein. Art: Johnny Craig, Jack Davis, Jack Kamen, Graham Ingels. Handicapped Horror: Innocent man sizzles in Old Sparky; man mauled by moose; neurasthenic Nancy knackered by nurse; paralyzed perp parboiled alive ("She lay HELPLESS... unable to MOVE... watching HORRIFIED as the FLAMES drew CLOSER and CLOSER..."). Plus: Feldstein fiddles with formula in back-to-back "EC Quickies," deconstructing his own stuff like a magician spilling his secrets.

"The EC quickies – 'Murder the Lover!'/'Murder the Husband!' – are emblematic of Feldstein's love/hate affair with the revenge formula. Feldstein was so good at varying the formula that he became seduced into doing variations within the same story. This is fascinating – but not terribly successful. The impact of even a formula story depends on a certain classic suspension of disbelief; Feldstein, by showing alternate versions of the same story, underscores what he's up to, and the stories are doomed to work on only one level: whimsy." – Max Allan Collins, Crime SuspenStories Vol. 3. Russ Cochran: 1983.______________________________________________________________

A limited edition of ten hardcover catalogues is available, in addition to a few dozen softcovers. Fun reference, great keepsake, fully illustrated, chockablock with obscure facts, gags, bon mots. Softcovers are $40, deluxe hardcovers with dust jackets and limitation plates are $200. These books always go fast so don't delay. To order, contact ivan@pbagalleries.com.

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